(AVILLA) - A man was killed Thursday night near Avilla in a freak accident. The Noble County Sheriffs Department says 72-year-old Phillip Longsworth was trying to remove a strap holding a pan scraper excavator on a trailer at about 6:45pm.

After releasing the tension on the strap, the excavator rolled which caused Longsworth to be pinned between the excavator and the trailer. Longsworth was pronounced dead at the scene by the Noble County Coroner's Office.

The Sheriff's Department were assisted by Avilla Police, Indiana State Police and Avilla firefighters.